Reunion for historic firm as book is launched
PAST employees of a historic firm which made components for wartime Spitfires and later became the biggest doorbell and chimes producer in the world are being invited to a reunion event.
The Friedland family was behind one of Macclesfield’s most successful firms, employing hundreds of people over its 50 years in town.
Now a book has been written about the history of the Friedland firm, and past employees are invited to join the family for the official launch.
John Doggart, who is the grandson of Victor Friedland, the founder of V&E Friedland Ltd, said he hoped the event would be a chance for many of the company’s past colleagues to reunite.
He said: “Everyone is welcome at the heritage centre and it would be lovely to see as many former staff as possible to reminisce and celebrate the firm.
“The book describes how the drive of my grandfather and the skills and hard work of the Cheshire workforce made the firm become a global company, at one time the largest producer of bells and chimes in the world.”
Victor Friedland fled Belarus with his wife and five children 100 years ago after the Russian rev- olution, settling first in Germany before fleeing again to London in 1932.
In 1940 the business - which was now making essential voltage controls that were fitted into practically all Spitfires, Lancasters and Hurricane aircraft - was moved to the ‘safe area’ of Macclesfield.
The business diversified into plastics and expanded into a former billiards hall on Derby Street, Macclesfield, in 1944, and in 1946 Fried- lands moved out of Bollington into Lower Heys Mill.
After the war Friedland Doggart became internationally known for its chiming bells, as well as for its Frido footballs and Sasha dolls.
Book ‘The Friedlands - Business and Family’ has been written by Anna Doggart, John Doggart and Susan Friedland, who are Victor’s grandchildren, and covers the period from 1800 up to the sale of Friedlands in 1985.
They compiled the book using oral and written memories of family and employees of Friedland and a mass of photographs and audio recordings.
The launch will take place at the Old Sunday School Heritage Centre in Roe Street, Macclesfield on Saturday, April 21 from 11.30am until 1pm.
The celebration will be attended by Beverley Dooley, the Mayor of Macclesfield, herself a Saturday girl at Friedlands, together with Andrew Langdon, the Mayor of Bollington.